Celebrate as the proud and hospitable people of Crete do, famous for their culture, innovative spirit and nutritional habits.

7 Items in the box:

Black olive tapenade with walnut (View Image)Olive paste, made from handpicked olives in a combination spread with walnut. Two intense flavors in an uplifting match.The texture is crunchy to make each bite a delight. Enjoy it as a snack or an appetizer with your favourite bread or breadsticks. Add it to all Mediterranean sandwiches and canapés for extra flavor. The ideal solution for a light and healthy snack.

Komboloi - Worry beads (View Image)Komboloi derives from the Greek words kombos which means “knot” and leo which means “say” as in “in every knot I say a prayer“. Its origins date back to time, when monks began making strands of beads by tying knots on a string at regular intervals in order to say their prayers to God. Worry beads depict the Greek easy-going mentality. Most Cretans carry a komboloi with them at all times. One can hear komboloi’s flips and tricks in a busy kafeneion (café) downtown, where people play with their komboloi in different manners, thus letting go of their stress. Nowadays, the fact that the komboloi keeps your hands occupied, has been promoted as an excellent way to quit smoking.

Black headscarf in traditional bag (View Image)The knitted black silk headscarf is called Saríki in the Cretan dialect. It is said that its long fringes attest to the number of years of Ottoman rule in Crete and also symbolize the mourning for the victims of the uprising against the Turks in Arkadi monastery in 1866. The black Saríki emphasizes the masculinity and the pride of the wearer. In weddings, the white version of this headgear is expected to be worn on the shoulders of the groom, his close family male members as well as the koumbaroi (maid of honour and best man). The black headgear comes in a traditional woven mini-rucksack called vourgia in the local dialect. Vourgia in its normal size was a backpack carried by shepherds in rural Crete. Now it is part of the Cretan costume and is also used to put keepsakes in traditional ceremonies.

Olive Oil with oregano (View Image)Olive Oil from Crete island, infused with oregano herb aroma. No other tree has been so closely connected with a place as the olive tree with the island of Crete. More than 90% of the Cretan olive oil is extra virgin, which is the top-ranked classification category in the world. Oregano wild herb is hand picked in the slopes of the White Mountains (Lefka Ori or Madares) in Sfakia and also Psiloritis Mountain. These mountains are loved by the Cretans and on their slopes one can encounter rare species of birds and animals. Spice up your meals, boost the flavor of any bread-based appetizer, add a few drops raw on Greek yoghourt for intensified flavor. This Olive Oil comes in a 250ml dorica round glass bottle.

Phaestos Disk micrographia (View Image)Phaestos Disk is a disk of fired clay from the Minoan palace of Phaestos on the island of Crete, possibly dating to the middle or late Minoan Bronze Age (2nd millennium BC). It is covered on both sides with a spiral of stamped symbols. It features 241 tokens, comprising 45 unique signs, which were apparently made by pressing hieroglyphic "seals" into a disc of soft clay, in a clockwise sequence spiraling toward the disc's center. Its purpose and meaning remain disputed, making it one of the most famous mysteries of archaeology. The original disk is on display at the archaeological museum of Heraklion.

Thyme Honey Toplou (View Image)Toplou is the name of a 15th-century monastery located in Lasithi on the eastern part of the island of Crete. The area is registered as “Natura”. This wild thyme honey from Crete comes in a 200 grams glass jar. Has been awarded by the Great Taste Awards (UK) due to its distinctive aroma, rich taste and long lasting aftertaste. It is a premium honey with antibacterial properties, especially effective for healing respiratory and digestive problems, while being a natural energy boost. Have one tea spoon Toplou Thyme Honey in warm water every morning to cleanse your body at the beginning of your day. Try it with Greek yoghurt, dry prunes and walnuts. (Σφραγίδα: International Food Standard).